Improvement in boots and shoes



f W. W. WHITGOMB. Boot and Shoe.

No. 197,917. Patented Dec. 4,1877. I

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MPEFERS. PHDTOJJTILIUGRAPNER, WASHKNGTON. D L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- WILLIAM W. WHITOOMB, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.'

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,917, dated December 4, 1877; application filed November 2, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. WHIT COMB, of the city of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification:

The objectof my invention is to provide for use, in the manufacture of boots and shoes, a

new upper part, by the employment of which a great saving in the leather or other stock of which the shoe is made may be effected in all the upper parts, and by which the shoe is more readily and perfectly lasted, and a more perfect fit secured, particularly at the hollow of the foot.

As ordinarily practiced, the vamp and quarters of a shoe are so cut that the former may be directly stitched to or upon the latter, and in shoes with tie-straps the tie-straps are out as extensions of the quarters.

My invention consists in an intermediate part adapted to occupy a position in the shoe between two principal parts, (the vamp and quarters, for example,) which principal parts, when my intermediate part is employed, insteadof being so out as to fit andto be stitched to each other, are so cut as to fit and to be joined together by being stitched to said intermediate part.

I make said intermediate part of two thicknesses of leather ofthe same shape and size, fastened together preferably by a line or lines of stitching at or near the center, and the edges of the principal parts being inserted between the two thicknesses of leather composingthe intermediate part, the principal and intermediate parts are stitched to each other by the necessary lines of stitching, driven through the three thicknesses of leather. I secure an equally strong seam, when the intermediate part is made of a single thickness of leather,

by stitching strips of leather upon the principal parts, near their edges, and in such position as to admit of the insertion of the edges of said intermediate part within the pockets thus formed upon the principal parts, the lines of stitching by which, in such case, the prin-v cipal and intermediate parts are sewed together being also driven through three thicknesses of leather.

The shape and size of said intermediate parts vary according to the style and size of the shoe. Its shape is not material; but it is preferably cut goring in form, as shown in the drawings.

In certain styles-the shoe known as the French tie and the low boot called the Alexis tie, for example-J extend or prolong said intermediate part, formed of one or of two thicknesses of leather, so as to form at its upperextremity the tie-strap, or its equivaout.

The advantages secured by the use of my intermediate part are a great saving in the leather or other stock of which the shoe is made, the vamp and quarters being cut in less irregular forms, and therefore with less waste, particularly the quarters in those styles havin g tie-straps, while my intermediate part, which makes good the reduction in size of the vamp and quarters, is cut from fragments of leather or other stock of no considerable, if of any, value. The shoe, moreover, when this intermediate part is employed, is more readily and perfectly lasted, and a more perfect fit results at the hollow of the foot. Said intermediate part, when made of two thicknesses of leather, may be employed to join together the quarters of the shoe at the heel, and the line of stitching at or near the center being omitted, the counter of the shoe may be inclosed .within the pocket formed by the two thicknessesof leather composing the intermediate part.

It is obvious that in any use of said intermediate part, its two thicknesses of leather are not necessarily, but they are much more conveniently, fastened together prior to stitching the principal parts and said intermediate part to each other. y

In the description of the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view of the intermediate part described, made of two thicknesses of leather, with the two principal parts, and stitched between the two thicknesses of leather of the intermediate part. A is the intermediate part; a and a are the two principal parts. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the intermediate part, made of a single thickness of leather, inserted and stitched within pockets formed upon the principal parts. B is" the intermediate part; a and a are the two principal parts,

and b and b are the'strips stitched upon a and a to form the pockets described.

Fig. 3 is a shoe, showing intermediate part A extended 'to form the tie-strap 0.

Fig. 4 is a shoe, showing intermediate part B extended to form the tie-strap O.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a boot or shoe, the intermediate part A, made of two thicknesses of leather, and the edges of the vamp and quarters of the uppers joined together by inserting and fastening them between the two thicknesses of the intermediate part, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a boot'or shoe, the combination of the intermediate'part B with the pockets band I),

. gether, substantially as and for the purposes 7 hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a boot or shoe, the intermediate part A, extended to form the tie-strap G, or its equivalent, substantially as described.

4.. In a boot or shoe, the intermediate part B, extended to form the tie-strap O, or its equivalent, substantially as described.

WILLIAM W. VVHI TGOMB.

Witnesses WM. ASPINWALL, IoN F. BARRETT. 

